Is #"Mg"_2"O"_2"# the correct formula for magnesium oxide?

1 Answer
Meave60
Mar 17, 2015

When writing the formula for an ionic compound, such as #"MgO"#, you reduce the subscripts to the lowest whole number ratio. So, you reduce #"Mg"_cancel ("2")"O"_cancel ("2")"#, to #"MgO"#. Both formulas indicate a 1:1 ratio of Mg to O in the compound.

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